Advocacy since Auton

In November, 2004, the Supreme Court of Canada issued a decision in which it overturned the lower courts decision in Auton and stated that it was not discrimination to fail to provide autism treatment under Medicare because it was not prescribed in any health-related statute. It also said it was a matter for parliament, not the courts, to determine how health-care dollars are to be spent. In essence, the Supreme Court of Canada told parents and supporters to get political…

In November, 2005: FEAT of BC, as part of a national effort, organized a rally outside the Vancouver Public Library to mark the first anniversary of the Supreme Court of Canada`s decision in Auton.

November, 2006: Jean Lewis, along with two other BC parents, went to Ottawa to speak at a rally on parliament hill marking the second anniversary of the Auton decision.

In May, 2007: We launched the FEAT of BC goes coastal tour where we travelled to Ottawa, Toronto and Halifax, where we announced plans to initiate the 2% solution nationally in the 2008 federal election campaign. We held a press conference on parliament hill, met with parent activists in Toronto, and hosted a rally and campaign school in Halifax. (read the press release)

Following the rally, our campaign team returned to Ontario where we focused our efforts on the Health Minister’s electoral district . We attended at all-candidates’ meeting in Bracebridge, where we asked the Minister questions and gave media interviews. We also hosted another Medicare for Autism Now rally in Oakville.